By fining Joey Porter, league essentially admits he should have been flagged

Posted by Mike Florio on January 15, 2016, 3:21 PM EST

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When explaining recently on the league-owned network that Steelers linebacker Joey Porter shouldn’t have been on the field after receiver Antonio Brown was injured, NFL V.P. of officiating Dean Blandino said that the remedy would have been not to throw the flag but to simply get him off the field.

The final analysis of the situation from 345 Park Avenue suggests otherwise.

By fining Porter $10,000, the league concedes that Porter did something he shouldn’t have done. Which reasonably means that it’s something for which he should have been flagged.

Indeed, Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak was fined $10,000, too, and the officials flagged Munchak for his behavior, which included pulling the hair of Bengals safety Reggie Nelson. The five-figure fine for Porter represents a concession that he, too, should have been penalized.

If he had been, it would have at a minimum offset the 15-yard penalty imposed on Bengals cornerback Pacman Jones, who made contact with an official while protesting Porter’s presence on the field. At best, it would have wiped out the 15-yard penalty imposed on Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict for applying an illegal hit to Brown, since Jones perhaps wouldn’t have so zealously objected to Porter’s presence if Porter had properly been flagged.

So, basically, it’s fair to say that the inaction of the game officials decided the outcome of the game.

I like how after the fact the nfl basically apologizes for there mistakes these refs and the nfl r a joke anymore

stoneygroove says:Jan 15, 2016 3:28 PM

What an embarrassment all of this is. The NFL gets harder to follow every week. Where is the integrity? The glory days are over. Or maybe there was never any integrity. I don’t even know anymore. And I’m starting not to care.

They do that to save face. It only matters in the game, when the calls are made that determine the outcome. Also Martavis Bryant didn’t control that ball until he was in mid-air on his way out of bounds. Great play, but clearly didn’t have control of the ball with two feet in.

At least this time the NFL showed a minute amount of spine by fining Porter. Which is, as Florio points out, admitting that he should have been penalized.

The last time (under Tagliabue) they took the cowardly way out and failed to fine Von Oelhoffen for his action, because they knew that a fine would cause the outcome of the game to come into question and therefore the legitimacy of the entire postseason tournament. On further review it was clear Von Oelhoffen launched himself into the knee. But, no fine, no flag. After all, the integrity of the tournament cannot be questioned, and the favored franchises must be protected.

weegiethompson says:Jan 15, 2016 3:33 PM

OK clown, then fine everyone else that is not supposed to be there in that situation. Jeez this is getting old. Ive seen other teams coaches out on the field many times and never knew there was a rule.

Exactly what rule did Joey Porter break for being on the field. A typical news report, correction, news creation by media outlets. The refs decided nothing. Burdock head-hunted, Pacman was out of control. That decided the game.

openyoureyes12 says:Jan 15, 2016 3:34 PM

I’m glad that some of this is finally coming to light, and that some fans, even a very few (VERY FEW) Steelers fans in all their pride, are realizing that flags should have been thrown on the Steelers each time a flag was thrown on the Bengals.
The hit by Shazier was no different than the hit in the first half (if I recollect) on the Steelers WR who TURNED and LOWERED his upper body when the Bengals were flagged with a personal foul.
Plus Porter…
Plus the Steelers mouthing the Bengals after every play urging the Bengals on (which, to their fault, they played into) and then clapping and laughing like little girls when Cincy was flagged for retaliating.
The game was awful from an officiating standpoint, not as much from the violence perspective because that was honestly Football being played out there. It didn’t help that Nantz was so upset at the Bengals all game to help turn the public opinion against the Bengals all game.

If Porter was fined then why wasn’t there a fine to the Bunghole coaches on the field after the Bernard injury. They had 12 coaches/team officials on the field that were not helping with Bernard. Maybe if a flag was thrown there Porter wouldn’t have been on the field for Brown’s injury. So the officials set the precedence with the Bernard injury that coaches could be on the field.

paulieorkid says:Jan 15, 2016 3:36 PM

“By fining Joey Porter, league essentially admits he should have been flagged”

I dispute PFT’s conclusion. To my knowledge, this is basically an unprecedented situation, and as such, perhaps the League was simply sending a message that, henceforth, this kind of activity is frowned upon and should be avoided moving forward.

Also, let’s get another thing straight. The League tends to do a LOT of things based upon after-the-fact public opinion. Look no further than the Ray Rice fiasco for the bob-and-weave on display by the League to pander to public opinion.

So PFT’s jumping to the conclusion a flag should have been thrown is an unsupported leap of logic.

typical for NFL to assist the Steelers….remember when they tried to suspend Brady for the opener? It goes all the way back to the flag thrown in Super Bowl XIII vs Benny Barnes that the league later admitted was a mistake, but it helped turn momentum for the Steelers at the time.

The refs needs to have top notch support and the the tools required to call the game. The NFL has been neglecting this for a long time let’s bring the game into the modern age to prevent this kind of garbage from happening again.

rolltide510 says:Jan 15, 2016 3:39 PM

“Exactly what rule did Joey Porter break for being on the field”

The “coaches can’t come on the field to taunt the opposing team” rule. Pretty cut and dry.

Maybe everything you say is true, but it would have been a shame if the Bengals behavior during the duration of that game had been rewarded with a victory. Their players and fans acted like out of control animals.

As for the Steelers “provoking” them, every team tries to get under their opponents skin every week in every game. It’s not an excuse for coming completely unglued like the Bengals and their fans did.

Both fines were only meant to appease the little bitch crybabies in Cincy.

lonelylibertarian says:Jan 15, 2016 3:43 PM

One of several flags that should have been thrown…

1. Nelson’s hit on Todman – out of bounds – led to the hair pull – but that play gets a flag on Nelson 9 times out of ten.
2. Unnecessary roughness on Burficts sack and knee action on Ben
3. Delay of game AND unsportsmanlike conduct for the Burfict plus his lackeys running off the field and up the tunnel – that should have netted 30 yards at least in flags…

But focus on one of the 13 coaches who were on the field…

It is easy to keep folks off the field – flag them and suspend them for the next game without pay – their wives will kill them if they go on the field.

bonniebengal says:Jan 15, 2016 3:43 PM

@hitman8343: Porter was in the Bengals huddle arguing with Adam Jones. He wasn’t taking care of Antonio Brown.

This is the best write-up regarding the events of the game and what should have happened. The Steelers were handed a win because of ref incompetence.

All the flags that have been flying, as of late, way behind the committed offense (ex. the facemask call in the Broncos game a few weeks back), it is a wonder that the refs wouldn’t correct their mistakes. The flag on Adam Jones should have been picked up and one should have been thrown on Porter. They offset. Then let the game continue. Instead, they stubbornly, stick to their initial poor calls and lack thereof which ultimately decided the game. What a shame. What a sham.

rhamrhoddy says:Jan 15, 2016 3:44 PM

Couldn’t Blandino have suggested a flag be thrown if he wanted? I mean he is essentially wired into the refs heads.

Then youd have offsetting penalties. That’s a huge oversight by the league.

“…the league concedes that Porter did something he shouldn’t have done. Which reasonably means that it’s something for which he should have been flagged.”

If he used offensive language under the new rules, yes. But just being on the field: it happens sometimes, and the officials should simply escort the coach off the field, as Blandino states.

It appears to me Porter was using incitement. I don’t think there is any rule that would allow a flag for incitement, happens all the time, players trying to get under each other’s skin and such.

But the league probably decided that he intentionally entered the field of play to commit such incitement…and it was the combination that got him fined. Refs probably couldn’t ascertain if he entered the field intentionally or not.

wow, lots of big leaps here. So basically, its fair to say I disagree with your judgment that a fine means there should have been a flag. And that if there was a flag, Pacman would never have bumped the ref. A lot of what if’s to lead your conclusion with “basically its fair to say…” Your better than that Florio

BenAnderson58 says:Jan 15, 2016 3:49 PM

I guess they should go ahead and fine the NINE Bengals coaches that were on the field when Bernard was being checked out too then, huh?
And Porter didn’t do anything to agitate any Bengals, aside from smiling at them after Gilberry pushed him from behind into a crowd of Cincy players. Burfict and Jones inability top control themselves cost them the game.
Let’s not pretend this is the first time those two idiots have taken actions like these.

NO!
EVERY week players get fined for plays that no flag was thrown on them.

Therefore, PFT CANNOT say that one set of standards applies to players and another applies to coaches.

PFT’s assertion that the NFL “essentially admits…” is debunked.

How about this….since flags were thrown on Burfict multiple times, thus hurting his own team…Burfict “essentially admits” that he is a loser t-h-u-g.

6ball says:Jan 15, 2016 3:50 PM

.
I had no dog in the Pittsburgh – Cincinnati tilt. I was just a fan wanting to watch a competitive contest on a Saturday night. What I got was an abject disgrace on both sides. From Tomlin standing with his toes on the 50 yardline to the final gun, it was a blight on the NFL.

That nonsense is acceptable to Goodell and the boys at 345 Park Avenue who, in the same breath, state the integrity of the game is paramount. What a joke!
.

So, basically, it’s fair to say that the inaction of the game officials decided the outcome of the game.
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No, it isn’t fair to say that. You don’t know what would have happened if Porter would have been flagged because there was still time left on the clock. If the penalty offset the Jones penalty, the Steelers were still in field goal range. If Jones doesn’t get a penalty and it offsets the Burfict penalty, the Steelers still could have moved the ball into field goal range.

“So, basically, it’s fair to say that the inaction of the game officials decided the outcome of the game.”

Thank you Mike. This is the saddest part of that game. As much as both teams were over the line at times, the officials in the end decided it and took it out of the hands of the players…you know, the people we actually want to watch.

I’ll gladly pay that 10 grand for Joey! That was brilliant! Knowing you are dealing with emotional gangsters and able to pull off an extra personal foul for a chip shot? Sign me up! Total patriots thing we did right there. Belicheat and deflator Brady taught us well!

“So, basically, it’s fair to say that the inaction of the game officials decided the outcome of the game.”

Ha Ha…great logic there Mr. Florio…since we are what if’ing: Here is some more inaction by the officials that may have helped decide the game:

1. If Burfict had been penalized on his 60 yard Wrong Way Corrigan impersonation after the Int, as he should have been, the Steelers would have started the last drive 15 yards further down field. Thus making the final kick from the exact same spot, even if they throw the flag on Porter…

2. Not calling a penalty on Burfict for kneeing BB’s shoulder.

3. Not calling a false start on the AJ Green TD.

4. Not calling a taunting penalty by Hill on the AJ Green TD.

Think any of those may have influenced the outcome of the game?

I guess if you want to get really technical, it’s the whistles fault because if it had never blown, none of this stuff would have happened.

I get that mistakes will be made by the officials in nearly every game. What I have a problem with is that the game changing mistakes almost always benefit the leagues most successful and popular teams while going against the outsiders. Looking ahead to this weekend’s games I’d bet the “mistake” goes against the Chiefs.

Deb says:Jan 15, 2016 4:06 PM

And what about Gilberry? Shouldn’t he have been flagged for shoving Porter? Joey had as much right to be on the field as all those Bengals assistants had to be on the field when Bernard was down. So I guess he was fined for something he said. But Jones was flagged for making contact with an official. If Porter had made contact with an official, I expect he would have been flagged.

streetyson says:Jan 15, 2016 4:06 PM

Steelers on field when they shouldn’t be? To interfere with opponents’ players and affect outcomes? OMG – someone tell their HC, Trip Tomlin!

mmack66 says:Jan 15, 2016 4:06 PM

What was Blandino doing during this game? He should have been on the bat phone every 5 minutes, but nothing.

So, basically, it’s fair to say that the inaction of the game officials decided the outcome of the game.
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I’d have no issue with the fine. I would have no issue with the flag being thrown either.

As long as the Bengals coaches were treated the same way FOR DOING THE SAME DAMNED THING!

If Porter was fined, then Dez Bryant should be fined if he runs on the field with no helmet when Cowboys defense is on the field. Same concept. He doesn’t belong there and this nonsense has to be stopped. If it’s wrong for Porter, it’s wrong for Dez.

Kind of like the inaction on the part of the officials after the hit that knocked Roethlisberger out of the game. Or the over-involvement of the officials with the unnecessary whistle on the Shazier touchdown due to a hit that both the officials and the NFL rule book define as legal. The game was poorly managed all around (flags, whistles, etc.).

maverick2560 says:Jan 15, 2016 4:16 PM

I am a Steeler fan ….Porter should have been flagged. He was out there
to start trouble. I hate when refs decide games. Just as Burfict does not deserve the benefit of doubt …Porter does not as well.

maverick2560 says:Jan 15, 2016 4:16 PM

I am a Steeler fan ….Porter should have been flagged. He was out there
to start trouble. I hate when refs decide games. Just as Burfict does not deserve the benefit of doubt …Porter does not as well.

Deb says:Jan 15, 2016 4:16 PM

If anyone can provide a link to a clip of Mike Tomlin tripping a player, I’d love to see that.

Luckily, there are no folding chairs on the sidelines, this is turning into the WWNFL

dkgambler1 says:Jan 15, 2016 4:25 PM

And to think that a few weeks ago Bruce Arians got a flag thrown on him for using the “F” word with the refs…. from the sideline.

Anyway, there’s a bigger issue here. Tomlin has created a culture where he and his coaches make themselves part of the game. Tomlin and his little “oops, sorry I got in the way Jacoby Jones” act from a few years ago, together with his “wud I do?” look and its his s-eating grin, Munchak, Porter, surely there’s other cases. So I would have fined Tomlin at least a couple hundred thousand for starters to nip that nonsense in the bud. I want to see Tomlin flying all over the place keeping his assistants off the field.

Full disclosure, not that it will fend off any mouth-breathing Stiller fans: I have no dog in the hunt for either team, just rooting to clean this nonsense up. Burfict and Jones are both anti-social creeps, but Tomlin is right behind them.

Neither Porter nor Munchack deserved fines, or penalties, or even a discussion. Neither of them did anything wrong. Bengals’ players engaged Porter & he spoke to them…BIG DEAL! And Munchack, all he did was slightly grab the wrist of a player who ran into him. Again, BIG DEAL. The NFL is lame these days. Letting Burfict get away with injury after injury against the Steelers without removing him from play & then fining Steelers coaches who do nothing wrong except slightly express this anger toward a team that was out to injure Steelers players. Continue to be a class act league office. The shield remains tarnished.

mark0226 says:Jan 15, 2016 4:27 PM

With all of the activity on the field, I expected offsetting penalties, but they only called the one on Pacman.

I was also shocked to see that two penalties were applied to one play netting 30 yards. Usually, when two m=penalties are called, only one is applied. Perhaps this is because one was during the play and one was a dead ball foul? I just don’t recall ever seeing 30 yards assessed on two 15 yard penalties before.

So, basically, it’s fair to say that the inaction of the game officials decided the outcome of the game.
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I’d have no issue with the fine. I would have no issue with the flag being thrown either.

As long as the Bengals coaches were treated the same way FOR DOING THE SAME DAMNED THING!

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Rule states coaches can be on the field, on THEIR side of the field – they are supposed to only get up to 5 or 10 yards.

@bonniebengal – You are wrong they were not huddled! No he wasn’t helping Brown, so you are right on that one. Again, why were all the Bunghole coaches on the field for Bernard’s injury? They were not helping him! No flag, no fine, nothing.

If anyone can provide a link to a clip of Mike Tomlin tripping a player, I’d love to see that.

Search Youtube for Steelers coach trip and you will have your wish.

whodeytn says:Jan 15, 2016 4:33 PM

LOL you’ve got to be kidding me. Some of you people live in lala land!

==========

One of several flags that should have been thrown…

1. Nelson’s hit on Todman – out of bounds – led to the hair pull – but that play gets a flag on Nelson 9 times out of ten.
2. Unnecessary roughness on Burficts sack and knee action on Ben
3. Delay of game AND unsportsmanlike conduct for the Burfict plus his lackeys running off the field and up the tunnel – that should have netted 30 yards at least in flags…

But focus on one of the 13 coaches who were on the field…

It is easy to keep folks off the field – flag them and suspend them for the next game without pay – their wives will kill them if they go on the field.

dispozblcopy says:Jan 15, 2016 4:37 PM

No “basically, it’s fair to say” about it. The refs blew chunks not flagging a coach on the field in the final minutes of a one-score game. Horrible, just horrible officiating, and it comes down to the ref, the crew chief.

My heart goes out to Cincinnati and all the fans. Minnesotans are heartbroken for sure, but at least they lost on plays, not a call or non-call. Patriots fan here, people forget just how much heartbreak this region has had sports wise over the last 35 years, or even the last ten, nad nearly all of it came down to plays or coaching decision, not officiating.

On the other hand, this idiot Burfict essentially knowck the steelers out of the Super Bowl with his dirty play. Suspend Burfict for a year, fine the Bengals the amount of his salary, to be applied against the cap next year if the Bengals decline to cut him loose.

You can’t “Monday Morning Quarterback” a flag like that Mike. Were there any Bengal coaches on the field when Giovani Bernard got hurt? Hill ran on the field and confronted Steeler players and he wasn’t flagged. If there is a rule and it has never been enforced then you can’t make that statement. Porter, regardless of what was said, was walking off the field when he was bumped by a Bengals’ d’lineman, grabbed by Burfict, then rushed by Pac Man Jones. All of which warrented a flag.

The bottom line is the Bengals lacked maturity and common sense and brought the circumstances that led to the lost on themselves.

nivekred says:Jan 15, 2016 4:43 PM

I guess a lot of Bengal Coaches should be fined also now since a ton of them came onto the field when Giovani Bernard got hit by ryan shazier.

How can anyone expect Dean Blandino, who knows far less about rules and officiating than the refs he manages, to radio in to them to make the correct call, which would have been to flag and perhaps eject Porter for going onto the field and putting himself into the opposing teams huddle to instigate a fight. Blandino is an absolute train wreck of a sideshow that the league should be embarrassed by. He needs to be the first league employee fired after the super bowl.

toedipusrex says:Jan 15, 2016 4:54 PM

Last year the Vikings were seen on the sidelines warming balls against league rules and they received a warning. Prior to that the Jets were found tampering with the balls used by the kicker and were fined 25K and no investigation. Also the Jaguars reported the Manning era Colts for tampering with the balls on the sidelines and the NFL took no action.

So we all know what happened with the Patriots. I’m not saying this to get absolve the Patriots, but in response to Steeler fans defending Porter because the Bengal coaches were also on the field and not flagged. The NFL is selective on how they penalize teams and it’s frequently not based on fairness. But if you think that the Bengals coaches’ presence on the field exonerates Porter, then the examples above should exonerate the Patriots.

bubbahotepp says:Jan 15, 2016 4:57 PM

Joey was out there to make sure that Burfict didn’t also kick Brown in the head while he was down.

Deb says:Jan 15, 2016 4:57 PM

If anyone can provide a link to a clip of Mike Tomlin tripping a player, I’d love to see that.

Search Youtube for Steelers coach trip and you will have your wish.

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Maybe you should run that search. When you find a video of Tomlin actually tripping someone, get back to me. Tomlin stepped into the runner’s lane. Stupid move, but he neither tripped the runner nor impeded his progress. Do you understand the definition of the word trip?

It’s not the point that Bengals coaches came onto the field too. Assistant coaches are not allowed on the field by rule, but it’s never enforced and rarely is a problem. In Porter’s case, it looks like he forgot he filed his papers and thinks he’s still a player. Although what Jones did is unacceptable and reprehensible, Porter instigated the whole thing. Guenther was right about him being an embarrassment.

For the sake of argument lets say that Porter was flagged for being on the field (which would be a pretty weak penalty, that absolutely anyone would be pissed about if it was called on their team), so the whole thing with Jones never happened.

Then as the article suggests, Burfict’s penalty for taking a clear cheap shot at another player and trying (successfully) to injure him would be offset because an assistant coach had stepped on the field to check on the player that Burfict just injured. Does anyone REALLY think that’s how things should have played out?

I know Bengals fans are pissed (personally I don’t have a dog in this fight) but come on. One of your players lost it and went way over the line and cost you the game. I know it sucks but it’s futile trying to find some fine print in the rule book to say the Bengals should have won after a play that was not only illegal, but immoral. Even without the penalties, the game wasn’t over. Steelers could have completed another pass to get into field goal range.

You just needed your RB to not fumble the ball on what essentially amounted to a garbage time play to run the clock out with the season on the line. That’s why you lost. Not because of an assistant coach walking out on the field and being a jerk.

johnc44 says:Jan 15, 2016 5:19 PM

excusemewhileiwhipthisoutagain says:
Jan 15, 2016 3:33 PM

Oh, and Florio, it wouldnt have offset anything, because there should have been a flag for Gilberry bumping Porter.
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If Porter had been flagged when he came out there wouldn`t have been a bump by Gilberry.It was the refs not doing their job which was now confirmed that led to them losing control of the game and the outcome.I don`t if it decided the outcome and that`s the problem.Burficts hit aside almost every neutral fan noticed a very one sided crew in how they handled the situations during that game and cost us a real ending.

Deb says:
Jan 15, 2016 4:57 PM
If anyone can provide a link to a clip of Mike Tomlin tripping a player, I’d love to see that.

Search Youtube for Steelers coach trip and you will have your wish.

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Maybe you should run that search. When you find a video of Tomlin actually tripping someone, get back to me. Tomlin stepped into the runner’s lane. Stupid move, but he neither tripped the runner nor impeded his progress. Do you understand the definition of the word trip?

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I do understand. It’s much like the one you are on with you’re delusional biased view. Enjoy.

mmack66 says:Jan 15, 2016 5:33 PM

alwaysaz says:
Jan 15, 2016 4:30 PM

If anyone can provide a link to a clip of Mike Tomlin tripping a player, I’d love to see that.

Search Youtube for Steelers coach trip and you will have your wish.
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Tomlin didn’t trip anyone, he just impeded the progress of Jacoby Jones.

A Jets coach once did trip a player, however.

Deb says:Jan 15, 2016 5:34 PM

Do you understand the definition of the word trip?

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I do understand. It’s much like the one you are on with you’re delusional biased view. Enjoy.

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One clip of Tomlin actually tripping someone would demonstrate my bias. Just one …😀

Maybe Blandino should call a calming down period from the booth. Then refs could take the time to get the call right whichever way it goes. No need to rush the game an extra minute would ensure the right call!

tedmurph says:Jan 15, 2016 5:51 PM

Hard to respect someone using semantics to defend a bad position. ‘Tripped’/’Got in the way of”, doesn’t make much difference towards the greater point.

“…the inaction of the game officials decided the outcome of the game.”

Flo, I’m usually down on you for your PIT bias, but I stand corrected this time. Bravo for standing up.

Deb says:Jan 15, 2016 6:11 PM

Well, he either tripped him or he didn’t. It’s not about semantics. It’s about truth. It’s about whether the coach came onto the field–like Sal Alosi of the Jets–and tripped a player or not. And Mike Tomlin did not come onto the field and trip anyone.

I’d have to value your opinion for your respect to matter to me. I don’t.

tedmurph says:Jan 15, 2016 6:48 PM

Alosi didn’t come on the field. He wasn’t even on the white line, like Tomlin. He tripped a gunner who was pushed out of bounds and was trying to get back on the field. What Tomlin did was just as bad. But a frontrunner fan never runs out of excuses for the right laundry. Think I’ll be a Steelers fan. Maybe Alabama too. How about the Yankees while I’m at it. Maybe the Canadiens. Anyone that wins a lot. Talk about no value…

dkgambler1 says:Jan 15, 2016 7:31 PM

Debbie should be a politician with her “it depends what the meaning of is is” attitude. No, Tomlin didn’t trip anybody! He just impeded his progress! He’s practically a saint!

Unprincipled people like Debbie are why the nation is in the toilet.

pittsburghmohawk says:Jan 15, 2016 7:46 PM

The Bengals could have been flagged for at least 3 other personal fouls involving Porter, not just Pacman. Gilberry is lucky he didn’t get one for slamming into him as they were leaving the field. That actually lead to everything else. Burfict should have been flagged for grabbing Porter’s jacket and pulling him. Gilberry then bumped him again. So the Bengals whining about Porter should stand up and take some responsibility, but I’m sure just like their fans, they’ll look to place blame everywhere else except where it belongs.

Porter wasn’t fined for being on the field. He was fined for cussing at Bengals players, which is the right decision. I understand the outrage; simply accepting that the Bengals are comprised of mental midgets is too hard.

Hysterical the dim witted Bungle fans on here all pissed, spewing their venom trying to make themselves feel better…LMAO. It’s over, you are 0-fer. One and done…again, again, again,again…Shouldn’t you be looking at draft picks?

Deb says:Jan 15, 2016 8:17 PM

Aww, tedmurph, after all these years, aren’t you tired of being the little Pats fan who hops onto every Pittsburgh thread to spit at the Steelers fans? I’ve always wondered why you don’t just enjoy the success of your own team rather than railing at everyone else. But some kids have learned to play well with others … and some just like to throw sand at the other boys and girls. Bless your heart, you bitter lil thing.

Yes, my dad, who passed a couple of months ago, was from Alabama, so we grew up Tide fans from birth and are basking in another championship. And I’m proud to say I’ve been a diehard Steelers fan–win or lose–for 38 years. As you well know, I’ve written many more posts defending the Patriots on both Spygate and ball inflation than I’ve ever written defending Tomlin’s actions in that Baltimore game. I condemned him for getting in the runner’s lane and said he deserved at least the $100,000 he was fined. But he didn’t trip anyone. I appreciate truth and accuracy. And I could not care less what the rest of you appreciate.

So, what about all of those Bengals assistants who were on the field after the Bernard hit? Should they have been flagged and fined too? Or is Mike Florio another one of the Steelers-haters in the national media who just hate all things Pittsburgh?

Let me ‘splain something to you, Mikey:

1. If you’re not going to fine or flag any of the coaches for being on the field after the Bernard hit, then why fine Porter, who wouldn’t have been in that scrum if Burfict hadn’t taken a swing at one of the Steelers’ trainers as Antonio Brown was being helped off the field.
2. Porter “said his peace” to Burfict after the incident with the trainer, only to be surrounded by several Bengals players. Porter, as you will see in videos that you can find on YouTube, SAID NOTHING. I repeat, Mikey, PORTER SAID NOTHING in that exchange.

For everyone mentioning “9 Bengals coaches” on the field (implying they were doing exactly what Porter was doing), I’d like to see a screen cap or video of any of those coaches alone in a crowd of Steelers starting a skirmish. Also, name the nine coaches. Attendants (like water boys/girls) and medics are allowed on the field at any timeout.

The only reason Cincy got wind in their sails is the QB special Burfict did on Ben. BTW that was a 15 yard penalty for the knee and a first down instead of a punt. So the only reason Cincy got in the game was a ref present. So stop complaining about the refs. Oh, and there was the Shazier’s touchdown. If Ben was not hurt it wouldn’t be so easy to get the ball back couple of times after. In my opinion the outcome of the game was the right one. So stop whining. If you believe Cincy players don’t talk trash and don’t provoke their opponents you are in a real denial. All players do. They just have to learn to control themselves.

Cincy didn’t get such penalties against the Steelers only. How many Cincy games have you watched?

So if Porter deserved a flag, what about the nine Bengals’ assistants who were on the field for the Bernad injury.

The premise of this article is ridiculous. Maybe there is a rule that assistants shouldn’t go on the field during an official timeout, but it never gets enforced.

Why should we assume. Porter being on the field was more egregious than those Bengals’ assistants being on the field? Because Burfict said he was cursing them out, even though the is zero evidence Porter did any such thing?

Porter was fined because there was an altercation when he was on the field, so it was assumed he must have done something.

If I’m Porter, I’m appealing the fine and taking that picture of the Bengals’ assistants on the field with me to New York.

Yet Pacman runs free. Cincy fans are stupid look who lost the game you had won and please you are admitting you let an X player assistant coach get in your head. What a laugh.

tonebones says:Jan 17, 2016 10:13 AM

I think both the league and the referees used common sense. The referees certainly didn’t have a tight grip on control throughout this game, and there was absolute craziness happening right there at the end. Burfict had lost his mind, and was out there just trying to hurt people. It was during a timeout, which was caused by Burfict’s penalty. The situation was out of control. Porter was trying to help the refs get control. Then Pacman lost his head and threw a punch. If that hadn’t happened, nobody would have even noticed that, amid all the chaos, Porter was even on the field. In the end, the league got it right. The Bengals have a couple repeat offenders, who have, throughout their entire careers, cost their teams games because of behavior control issues. This game was just one of many that fall into that category for those two Bengals’ players. As long as Mike Brown keeps these two around, these type losses will continue to pile up for the Bengals. People can blame others all they want. Nothing is going to change. You just can’t win with bad character guys.

All week, all I have been hearing and reading about is the STEELERS coaches, TD catch and hit on Bernard. What is not acknowledged is the poor execution and composure of the HOME team. What is sad about this discourse is had Burfict been flagged for his sack and knee to Big Ben, this game never gets close in the first place. The Munchak issue was in the first half and was flagged! The TD was on 1st down anyway and Benard’s fumble should have counted as a TD! So, if you want to say that makes it a wash, we can agree! Porter on the field was not a flag, if he was flagged then all 10 of the coaches on the Bernard hit should have been flagged as well. Stop excusing the supporting facts around this game. It was chippy and there was poor player conduct primarily by the Bengals players on the field. If Adam Jones does not bump the referee, he does not get a penalty, period. At best, the ball is on the 32 yard line as oppose to the 17. The Steelers run one play and pick 5 yards, it is basically the same distance for the kicker. Quit whining about a very ugly game that drew major ratings! It was ugly and it was chippy! The kid Burfict was out there headhunting and he intentionally hit AB and Ben. Just a cowardly act for a guy getting paid to play professional football. He lacks self control and is selfish! He hurt his team. Adam Jones hurt his team! Those are the matters that led up to their loss! Be mad at them for being self focused and making it about them as oppose to their team!

Analyses causing paralysis. What to do? Make a bunch of new rules? No. Broncos win over Steelers negates outcome. Case closed… til next time. Waitress, could we get another round over here, please? Thanks.

Before we give you any video/pictorial evidence, please give us video/pictorial evidence that Joey Porter started a skirmish.

Because the video evidence we have doesn’t show Joey Porter doing anything.

It shows Bengals’ players coming up to him, surrounding him and then shoving him.

So absent any evidence, why are you assuming Joey Porter started anything?”

Um, a skirmish started, and Porter was literally – yes, literally – in the middle of it. There were several Bengals in a particular area of the field, a lone Steeler – Porter – looming for no explainable reason (neither Antonio Brown nor his medical attendants were nowhere near anyone involved), and a skirmish occurred. I’m not sure what else you’d need to see, since no one else disputes what I just recounted.

I think what you meant to say was that we have no audio evidence, and I’d agree with you on that. The Bengals players were clearly reacting to something, and Porter was the only plausible something in the area (and, again, there’s no other reason for him to even be in that area).

And why would Tomlin then refuse to talk about Porter during the next week if there were a legitimate, plausible reason for him to have been involved in that skirmish that you don’t believe happened (but everyone else has seem many, many times)?

If you want to get really anecdotal, keep in mind that this is the same Joey Porter who needed three of his friends to jump a lone Bengals player in a casino during the offseason. You’re certainly free to continue on your line of “reasoning”, though, that no skirmish occurred, and that he was not in the middle of it for unexplained reasons.

Now, about those “9 Bengals coaches” who were allegedly doing the exact same thing as Porter…

So the NFL basically admits the refs, one of them is the brother of former Steeler player and coach Ray Horton, blew the game by not calling the game fairly. They have to have a transparent system to discipline the refs when they clearly make a mistake and alter the outcome of the game.

Burfict and Pacman made stupid mistakes, but so did Porter and he wasn’t penalized when he should have been. If they gave Muncheck a 15 yard penalty then Porter should have received one as well as they were both fined for their actions.

fmc651 says:Jan 19, 2016 2:29 PM

To the Steelers fans bringing up Cincin’s coaches on the field. Apples and oranges. The Bengals coaches were going into the huddle of the Steelers players and jawing with them. Porter was out of line.

TheDPR says:Jan 20, 2016 9:34 AM

They cut coaches some slack for being on the field if they stay on THEIR SIDE of the field (even though technically that’s not allowed either). When a guy crosses midfield and is intermingling with the opponents, that’s when unsportsmanlike conduct must be called. It wasn’t. They let the Steelers have a 35 yard kick instead of a 50 yarder. They fined the guy afterwards. Florio is correct.

BTW, I’m not a fan of either team. Not even a fan of an AFC team. Both the Steelers and Bengals are dirty. Difference is that the Steelers are sneaky/smart dirty and the Bengals are in-your-face/stupid dirty.

Tomlin seems to relish and encourage the sneakiness. Lewis seems to not even realize what’s going on most of the time.